“Arguments That Could Possibly Be Urged”: Modal Verbs and Tentativeness in the Coruña Corpus

Abstract

This paper complements previous research into the late Modern English scientific writing uses of the adverbs possibly and perhaps as manifestations of either subjectivity or intersubjectivity, as presented in the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing. In order to have a better understanding of the uses of these adverbs as markers of tentativeness, we will explore their syntagmatic relations with modal verbs. It is widely assumed that scientific discourse has an objective nature, although it has been questioned by its use of hedging and other expressions of stance. In the present study, we will assess how modal verbs accompanying these stance adverbs modulate the expression of tentativeness. The use of stance adverbs shows authorial presence and a covert interaction with the reader. The paper examines different degrees of hesitancy depending on the type of modal verb accompanying these adverbs. The analysis has been carried out on four subcorpora of the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing. Our findings will be presented from a more general to a more detailed account for each of the forms under investigation and interpreted taking into account the variables ‘date of publication’ and ‘genre’ for the text, and ‘sex’ for the author.

Use of Modals as Stance Markers: A Corpus-Based Study on Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials

“…In fact, the use of modals is very common in different genres (see, e.g., Bista, 2009; He & Wang, 2012; Holmes, 1988; Hyland, 1994; Hyland, 1996; Mirahayuni, 2002; Molina, 2012; Moskowich & Crespo, 2019; Nartey & Yankson, 2014; Ngula, 2017; Orta, 2010; Siddique et al, 2019; Tenuta et al, 2015). Since a newspaper editorial is also a significant genre, it also contains modals, for example, the writers of editorials also make use of modals in editorials of world famous newspapers in general (see, e.g., Bonyadi, 2011; Fowler, 2013; Halliday, 1994; Lawal, 2015; Le, 2004; Ntsane, 2015; Qun, 2010; Trajkova, 2011) and Pakistani English newspapers in particular (see, e.g., Hayat & Juliana, 2016; Khalid, 2013; Sadia & Ghani, 2019).…”

“…Such as Hyland (1996) found its use in scientific writing; Holmes (1988) and Hyland (1994) observed its use in textbooks; He and Wang (2012) and Mirahayuni (2002) noted its use in non-native speakers’ (NNSs) academic writing and Tenuta et al (2015) investigated the use of modal verbs in English essays written by Brazilian native speakers. Similarly, Moskowich and Crespo (2019), Ngula (2017) and Orta (2010) discovered its use in research articles; Bista (2009) investigated its use in political discourse; Molina (2012) explored the use of modal verbs in maritime talk and text; and Nartey and Yankson (2014) discovered the use of modal verbs in political manifestos; and Siddique et al (2019) studied the use of modals in an autobiography. This study aims to present an analysis of stance in the texts of Pakistani newspaper editorials involving the principles of stance marking with the help of modals.…”

Adjectives in the Expression of Epistemic Modality in Applied Linguistics Research Articles

“…For example, Hyland (1996) found its use in scientific writing; Holmes (1988) and Hyland (1994) observed its use in textbooks; He and Wang (2012) and Mirahayuni ( 2002) noted its use in academic texts written by non-native speakers; and Tenuta et al (2015) investigated the use of epistemic modality in English essays written by native Brazilian speakers. Similarly, Moskowich and Crespo (2019), Ngula (2017) and Orta (2010) discovered the use of epistemic modality in research articles; Bista (2009) in political discourse; Molina (2012) in maritime conversations and texts; Nartey and Yankson (2014) in political manifestos; and Siddique et al (2019) in autobiographies.…”

Whole issue 16.1

“…The rhetorical profile of scientific writing is perhaps best understood as arising from two distinct needs on the part of scientists: to vindicate their claims, and at the same time to achieve the best reception possible by their community of peers. This has led to the practice of an effective, deliberate mode of writing, in which the author has to persuade and negotiate meaning (Allen et al, 1994;Atkinson, 1996Atkinson, , 1999Álvarez-Gil & Bondi, 2021;Álvarez-Gil & Quintana Toledo, 2022;Bazerman, 1988;Hyland, 1996Hyland, , 1998Hyland, , 2000Moskowich & Crespo, 2019).…”